9


10


lead the association and the construction workforce into the future. A second general session on October


11 featured keynote speaker Barbara Jackson, president of Barbara Jackson LLC, who offered an address on “Jump- ing the Curve – Creating an Alternative Future for the Industry.” Jackson asserted that construction companies looking to rise to the next level must place greater focus on innovations and investment in their people rather than simply in processes or new technologies, a topic that will be explored in greater detail in a future issue of California Constructor. The closing general session on Oc- tober 12 kicked off with a presentation by AGC of America Chief Economist Ken Simonson on the state of the con- struction industry and its outlook for


22


CALIFORNIA CONSTRUCTOR JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024


11


2024. (See his 2024 forecast article on page 10 of this issue). The session also included a panel discussion on political, legislative, and regulatory issues facing the construction industry in California and nationwide.


The session was moderated by


AGC of California Vice President of Engagement and Legislative Affairs Chris O’Connor, and featured speak- ers Jennifer Barrera, president and CEO of CalChamber, Felipe Fuentes, partner, The Apex Group, and Steve Sandherr, CEO of AGC of America. The panelists offered updates and analysis of recently signed or vetoed legislative bills and regulatory issues impacting the industry, including proposed new national regulations on project labor agreements and new prevailing wage


The CONSTRUCT 2023 closing session panel included, from left: Chris O’Connor, AGC of California; Steve Sandherr, AGC of America; Felipe Fuentes, The Apex Group;


9


and Jennifer Barrera, CalChamber. 10


Expo. 11


Exhibitors engage with attendees at the CONSTRUCT 2022 offered plenty of


opportunity for networking and fun.


requirements, to name a few. Among the issues they discussed,


one area of particular interest to the California construction industry has been the recent passage of bills expand- ing the authority for Caltrans and other public entities to utilize progressive design-build and other alternative procurement approaches. That was the subject of another session, “Creating Collaborative Partnerships for Effective Alternative Delivery Methods,” held earlier in the day.


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